Wigan Athletic academy manager Jake Campbell has expressed his delight after the club agreed a professional deal with teenage starlet Elijah Igiehon.
Wigan Athletic are looking forward to an exciting 2024/25 season after enjoying a fruitful first campaign back in League One.
The Latics recovered brilliantly after starting the season on minus eight points to climb all the way up to 12th in the third-tier table. Shaun Maloney’s side won 20 of their 46 league games with the deduction meaning they were a far better team than their mid-table position suggests.
It has fans excited for what next season could bring. The club will be hopeful of bringing in some fresh faces while retaining the services of their key men.
Now though, it has been confirmed that a future talent has committed his future to Wigan Athletic.
The Latics announced on Wednesday morning that teenager Elijah Ihiegon has penned his first professional contract with the club. It comes amid an impressive few years in the academy ranks and sets him up for the next chapter in his promising career.
Ihiegon is yet to make a first-team bow so some Wigan Athletic fans might not be familiar with him.
However, the words of academy boss Jake Campbell should certainly have fans eager to see what’s to come from their youngster in the years to come. Speaking with the club’s official website upon his professional deal announcement, Campbell made no secret of his admiration for Ihiegon’s abilities.
Ihiegon and his academy teammates will be encouraged by the number of youth squad players who have gone on to earn first-team opportunities at Wigan Athletic in recent years.
Sam Tickle and Charlie Hughes have emerged as two of the EFL’s brightest young players since breaking into senior football while the likes of Thelo Asgaard and Baba Adeeko have also found regular action.
Ihiegon will be among those hoping to follow in their footsteps after committing his future to the side on a professional contract.
Those within Wigan Athletic certainly seem excited over what the future his in store for the prospect so with a fruitful summer, it will be intriguing to see if Ihiegon can break into the senior side over the next year or so as he continues to develop in the north west.
